Accordion finger wire and valve attachment



June 25, 1946. E. c. OSENBERG ACCORDION FINGER WIRE AND VALVE ATTACHMENT Filed March 2, 1944 Elli,

INVENTOR.

' f/Pw/N' Gals/vane. BY

flrra Mfrs.

Patented June 25, 1946 ACCORDION FINGER WIRE AND VALVE ATTACHMENT Erwin C. Osenberg, De Kalb, Ill., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation Application March 2, 1944, Serial No. 524,662

5 Claims.

This invention relates to mean for attaching the valves of an accordion to their respective finger wires.

The usual means for attaching an accordion valve to a finger wire is by forming a recess in the valve to receive the finger wire which is secured therein by a wax composition which upon becoming set and hardened firmly and rigidly secures them together, the wax filling the recess and the finger wire being imbedded within the wax. This practice is unsatisfactory for the reason that in a warm temperature the wax will soften to an extent, permitting the finger wire to settle and causing its associated actuating key to become misaligned. Also it is difiicult to so attach the finger wires to the valves a to obtain perfect alignment of the keys since the connection is normally rigid and fixed, permitting no adjustment for alignment.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a simple means for attaching the valves and finger wires such as to overcome these objections to the present practice, and wherein the attachment will be unaffected by temperature and will permit of convenient aligning adjustment. This is accomplished by forming the valve with an upstanding head or web portion to which the finger wire is adjustably clamped by a looped metal strap capable of being loosened for adjustment and tightened to maintain alignment under all operating conditions.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawing and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through the treble portion of an accordion showing a single valve for purposes of illustration. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a valve secured t the end portion of a finger wire. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2, showing the opposite side elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing there is shown for purpose of illustration that part of an accordion comprising a treble section l having a valve plate II with associated reed boxes l2 and l2a. Extending at an angle to the treble section in the usual manner there is provided a keybed I3 carrying a plurality of keys, one of which is indicated at I4. Said key is .pivotally supported adjacent one end thereof at l5 and carries an outwardly extending finger wire 16. The free end portion of the finger wire I6 is secured to a valve formed with a valve base I1 adapted to seat upon the valve plate H for opening and 2 closing the apertures Ila therethrough leading to one of the reed boxes I2, 1212. It is to be understood that each key M is thus connected to a valve, there being a finger wire and valve for each of the openings in the valve plate ll controlled by the fiat and sharp keys.

The valve is formed with an upright head or web portion l8, which is integral with the base portion ll. The valve may thus be integrally formed of wood, plastic or metal, as may be desired. The web portion 18 is formed with an angularly extending aperture indicated at [9 for receiving a locking screw 20.

The means for attaching the finger wire to the valve comprises a metal strap indicated at A which is normally substantially S-shaped and suitably apertured to receive the locking screw 28 in the following manner. Said strap A may be described as including side portions 2| and 22 and a looped portion 23. The side portions extend over and partially embrace the web 18 for clamping engagement thereabout. The looped portion is arranged to loop about and partially embrace the free end of the finger Wire l6. Said portions 22 and 23 are provided with openings indicated at 22a, to receive the clamping screw 20, whereas the portion 2| is split at 24a to provide thread engaging lips 24 forming a speed nut.

By means of this arrangement of the strap and locking screw a fixed rigid connection between the valve and finger wire is provided, such as will not be materially afiected to develop misalignment of the keys under adverse temperature conditions, while at the same time the valves and wires may be easily and quickly assembled and the keys aligned. Thus, the valve may be seated squarely over the openings in the valve plate by slightly releasing the locking screw to permit of minute adjustments between the valve and the plate, at the same time aligning the keys by adjusting the finger wires in the usual manner while the valve is held squarely and firmly against the plate, whereupon the screw may 'be tightened to lock it rigidly and fixedly in adjusted position.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an accordion, a valve having an upwardly projecting web, a finger wire for operating said valve, a strap extending about said wire and web, and releasable means for clamping said strap to said wire and valve respectively.

2. In an accordion, a valve having an upwardly projecting web, a finger wire for operating said valve, a metal clamping member partially embracing said wire and web, and releasable means in engagement with said member for drawing it into clamping position, whereby said valve and wire will be fixedly secured,

3. In an accordion, a valve having an upwardly projecting web, a finger wire for operating said valve, a metal strap extending over and partially embracing said web and having a looped portion on one side thereof locked about said finger wire, and a locking screw engageable with said strap and the looped portion thereof for clamping it about said web and finger wire, whereby they will be fixedly secured in adjusted relation.

4. In an accordion, a valve having an upwardly projecting web, a finger wire for operating said valve, 9, metal strap extending over and partially embracing said web and having a portion on one side thereof looped about said finger Wire, and a locking screw extending through the free end of said looped portion and web into threaded engagement with the opposite side of said strap for clam-ping said finger wire to said valve in adjusted position.

5. In an accordion, a valve having an upwardly projecting web, a finger wire for operating said valve, a normally S-shaped metal strap having an opposing portion thereof engageable over said web for clamping engagement thereabout, a looped portion for embracing said finger wire, the web clamping portion of said strap and said web being apertured to receive a locking screw, a threaded locking screw extending therethrough, and a split thread engaging portion forming a speed nut provided in said opposite portion of the strap.

ERWIN C. OSENBERG. 

